Step By Step

We walk the talk to protect our planet—and our health

I just bought my first pair of Cariuma shoes, and I love them. I love how I am making a statement of fashion and sustainability. They are so stylish and comfortable. They also help me to use my shopping dollars to cast my vote for a healthier world.

Cariuma exclusively sources organic cotton that is grown with regenerative methods, without harmful pesticides or fertilizers, and directly combats heavy soil erosion and nitrate leaching (both characteristics of conventional farming). Organic cotton also means farmers, agricultural workers, and anyone involved in the manufacturing process of their sustainable sneakers are safe from toxic chemicals and pesticides.

Their natural rubber is gathered from the Hevea brasiliensis tree through ethical “tapping” (removing a milky sap from its bark). So, no trees are ever harmed in the production of their sneakers!

The majority of plastics used in their uppers, laces, labels, and threads are derived from recycled plastic bottles.

Their water-resistant recycled nylon is sourced from Global Recycled Standard-certified sources. Mechanically recycled nylon has a significantly lower carbon footprint than virgin nylon, with a 92 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram, according to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Material Sustainability Index.

In addition, they utilize single-box packaging: their shoe box doubles as one for shipping), and they use fully recycled paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

What’s more, for me, personally, because so many of my friends live in Cancer Alley, I am reducing global demand for plastic and other petrochemicals that would otherwise contribute to their production and making the building of new plastic plants there and elsewhere obsolete. We can do this, step by step, and take care of the health of ourselves and our planet.

To learn more about protecting your health and saving our planet, be sure to buy your copy of my new book Raising Healthy Kids: Protecting You Children from Hidden Chemical Toxins (Skyhorse Publshing, June 2024) from your local independent bookseller or here.

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